Maserang and Donze Families Papers:

A Guide

Jacob Maserang left Europe in 1858 to escape military conscription. He emigrated to New Orleans and then moved on to St. Clair County, Illinois, where he worked on his uncle's farm. In 1878, Maserang moved his family to Mansfield, Texas, bought 120 acres of land and began farming. His son Anthony Maserang (1867-1946) accompanied his parents and siblings to Texas in 1878. Anthony sold his father's farm in 1903 and bought 80 acres at the intersection of Old Cardinal Road and J.W. Pool. He is said to have made a good living on the farm, selling fruits and vegetables, home-churned butter, and eggs at a roadside stand. Anthony's daughter Lena May Maserang (1904-1999) graduated from North Texas State Teachers College in 1935 and obtained her master's degree from North Texas State College in 1953. She was married to Anthony Joseph Donze (1905-1989). The Maserang and Donze Families Papers are comprised of a photograph album, scrapbooks, business ledgers, genealogical materials, ephemera, and writings. The jewels of this collection are the 1926-1927 photograph album and two business ledgers (1903 to 1904, 1912 to 1923). The album contains clear, identified, and dated snapshots of Mansfield, Cedar Hill, Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas - both city views and family pictures. The two business ledgers record purchases and sales of various goods, crops planted and sold on the family farm, journal of daily activities, bank accounts, genealogical information, and miscellaneous entries such as treatment of colic in horses. Lena Maserang Donze is prominent in the collection with a few pieces of her poetry and other writings, her undergraduate and graduate diplomas, master's thesis, and scrapbooks.

Jacob Maserang (1827- ) left Europe in 1858 to escape military conscription. He worked briefly in New Orleans and then moved to St. Clair County, Illinois, where he worked on his uncle's farm. There he married Margueritte Schaeffer of St. Louis; the couple had eleven children. In 1878, Maserang moved his family to the area of Mansfield, Texas, bought 120 acres of land and began farming. His son Anthony Maserang (1867-1946) was born near East St. Louis, Illinois, and accompanied his parents and siblings to Mansfield in 1878. Anthony married Susan Elizabeth Parker, a native of Roanoke, Denton County. The couple had four sons and one daughter: Willliam Jacob (1900-1901); Michael Medlin (1902-1981); Lena May (1904-1999); Enoch Martin (1907-1968); and Clarence Anthony Maserang (1914-1940). Anthony sold his father's farm in 1903 and bought 80 acres at the intersection of Old Cardinal Road and J.W. Pool. He is said to have made a good living on the farm, selling fruits and vegetables, home-churned butter, and eggs at a roadside stand. Lena May Maserang graduated from North Texas State Teachers College in 1935 and obtained her master's degree from North Texas State College in 1953. She was married to Anthony Joseph Donze (1905-1989). Lena Donze died October 29, 1999 in Tarrant County, Texas.

Sources

Photograph album, scrapbooks, business ledgers, genealogical materials, ephemera, writings. The jewels of this collection of family papers include a 1926-1927 photograph album and two business ledgers (1903 to 1904, 1912 to 1923). The album contains clear, identified, and dated snapshots of Mansfield, Cedar Hill, Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas - both city views and family pictures. The two business ledgers record purchases and sales of various goods, crops planted and sold on the family farm, journal of daily activities, bank accounts, genealogical information, and miscellaneous entries such as treatment of colic in horses. Lena Maserang Donze is prominent in the collection with a few pieces of her poetry and other writings, her undergraduate and graduate diplomas, master's thesis, and scrapbooks.

Access

Open for research.

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